Pipe layout machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l Euh R. D. LEE

PIPE LAYOUT MACHINE /WfA/mf? ATTORNEYS E o @Twm M JETRMM Apri1z4, 1951 Filed NOV. 4, 1949 NNN April 24, 1951 R. D. LEE 2,549,911

PIPE LAYOUT MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 ROBERT D. LEE

Q, ,g V////////////// ATTORNEYS Patented pr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE" PIPE LAYOEJ'E MACHINE Robert D. Lee, South Gate, Calif.

Application November 4, 1949, Serial N o. 125,461

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pipe layout machines, and more particularly to apparatus for establishing on pipes or tubes severance lines disposed in predetermined angular relationship to the longitudinal center lines of such pipes or tubes.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide improved pipe layout apparatus for marking or cutting end cuts of Various selected angles on pipes or tubes of diierent sizes, so that a pipe can be cut to fit another pipe or a wall and extend at a predetermined angle therefrom, which apparatus provides the desired mark or cut ldirectly on the pipe and in a short time with a minimum amount of manual labor and without mathematical computation, and which is simple and durable in construction, manufacture, and easy to use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationv of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a pipe layout machine illustrative of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, with the parts in a somewhat different operative position from that illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-section of a fragmentary portion of the machine taken on the line E of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 'I-l' of Figure 2 of a fragmentary portion of the machine;

Figure 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 8 of Figure 1 of a fragmentary portion of the machine;

Figure 9 is a top plan View of a feeler arm con- I stituting an operative component of the machine; and

Figure 10 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale on the line I I of Figure 9.

With continued reference to the drawings, the pipelayout machine comprises, in general, an elongated, rectangular table Iii, a pipe bed II supported on the table and extending longitudinally thereof, manually-operated means I2 carriedv by the table and engaging the pipe bed for adjusting the pipe bed to pipes of different sizes, a protractor plate I3 pivotally mounted on the economical to table at a location spaced from one end of the pipe bed `I I, a gauge plate I4 secured at one edge to the protractor plate I3 along the straight, diametrical edge of the protractor plate and upstanding from the protractor plate substantially perpendicular thereto, a standard support I5 extending longitudinally of the pipe bed at a location spaced from 'one side of the latter, means I6 and Il supported on the table at the respectivelyopposite ends of the pipe bed for slidably mounting the standard support on the table for movements of adjustment toward and away from the pipe bed, a vertical standard I3 supported at its lower end on the standard support I5 for movements of adjustment longitudinally of the standard support, and a device I9 carried by the standard I8 and adjustably movable longitudinally of the latter for locating a severance line on a pipe supported on the pipe bed I I, and a feeler arm 2D attachable to such a pipe at the end of the pipe adjacent the gauge plate Iii for contacting the gauge plate as the pipe is rotated on the pipe bed to thereby move the pipe longitudinally as it is rotated and establish a` severance line having an angular relationship to the longitudinal center line of the pipe corresponding to the angular setting of the protractor plate I3 and gauge plate I4.

The table I0 may conveniently comprise an elongated, rectangular piece of metal of suitable thickness supported at its four corners on legs 2l and, if desired, reinforced by suitable frame members attached to or positioned adjacent its under surface. f

The pipe bed comprises three elongated, rectangular metal plates 22, 23 and 2li mounted on the table IIB and extending longitudinally thereof. The three plates 22, 23 and 24 are all of substantially the same length, which is materially shorter than the length of the table, the two outside plates 22 and 23 have a Width less than onehalf the width of the table, and the center plate l 2G has a width materially less than the width of the two outside plates 22 and 23. The center .plate 24 is rmly and permanently secured to the table and the two outside plates 22 and 23 are disposed along the respectively-opposite, longitudinal edges of the center plate and secured to the center plate by spaced-apart hinges 25. The

two outside plates carry ball-and-socket assemblies 2:3 thereon at spaced-apart intervals vdesired position of angular adjustment plate along the vertical center 3 moved longitudinally on the bed Without material frictional resistance.

The pipe bed is disposed adjacent one end of the table, but spaced a considerable distance from the opposite end of the table and a well is provided in the upper side of the table located on the longitudinal center line of the table substantially midway between such opposite end of the table and the adjacent end of the pipe bed II to receive a pivot'gpin forpivotally mounting thesprotractor plate and gauge plate assembly on Mthe table.

The protractor plate comprises a flat plate comprising two semi-circular parts 2`I: and :2870i different radii, but centered on a common center and joined along a common diametrical `*line which extends radially outwardat bothlsidestof the smaller part 27. An aperture is provided in the plate I3 concentric with the commonicen-ter of curvature of the two semi-circular parts 2'! and 8fand wapin 4V275i is received zin-.this aperture seated in ythe swell or recess provided fin the `table IB topivotally;,mount x,thegprotractor plate on theltab-le. vvThe pro,tractor..plate:is-@provaided on its upper surface with` degree'rmarks ,BG `andapeinteri I xisprovided.onitheltablexadjacent the vsemi-circular .edge of -the larger portion :of the .protractor fplate for-.ceoperation with :the degree .marks 3G to indicate ethe angular position Qf the diametrical zedge of ,the '.'larger E'plate {por- QIL28 .relative-to the longitudinal center line vcf the table.

YIt .may vhere zbe notedthat the lcenter plate 24 of `the pipe .bed is :mounted -.on the .table :so that its .center line is :substantially coincident with Athe longitudinal center line of the table, whereby Ythe Alangitudinal :center :rline or axis V,of .a pipe ,supported on the vpipe bed, .'.whenfextended will V.intersect the .extended :axis of fthe 4,pivot pin 29 .-of .the protractor plate.

kAn `angle .bracket -32 is secured lto':the-table .':I' at a loeation along .the .longitudinal "center line o .the table .closely adjacent the semi-circular edge .of the smaller part 4251 .of -the fpret-ractor plate, and this bracket y.has `a leg yoverlying :the marginal portion .of the part V2 of the protraetor plate andprovded with a screw'thread'ed .aperture. A thumb screw 33 is threaded through the aperture in the Abrac-ketSZ and engages fthe upp'er surface of .the smaller part ofthefprotractor plate to releasably lock 4the protrae-tor yplate in any relative to the longitudinal .center line of the table, it being noted that the indicator 3| is located on the longitudinal center line of the'table IB.

The gauge plate I4 is a flat plate, which may be of square or rectangularshape, and is secured along one edge tothe the common diameter of vthe small and large parts o f the protractor plate. This gauge plate extends perpendicularly upward `from the protractor plate and is rigidly secured Yintliis position by a center gusset ,3&3 vand two side gussets 35 and ,36 disposed Yin the angle between the .gauge plate and the larger part of the preti-actor plate and Welded, or otherwise suitably secured to both plates.

The center gusset 313 `is of generally rectangular shape and is disposed substantially perpendicular to both the gauge plate and the protractor line of the gauge plate and the medial rad-ius ci the larger portion of the protractor plate. 'line two side gussets and 3,6 aredisposed at respeeti-velyoppositev sides of the center gusset fl and are et generally tri-- protractor plate I3 alongv angular shape. These two side gussets are dis posed substantially perpendicular to the protractor plate, but are inclined in a direction away gposition of angular adjustmentrelative to the longitudinal center line'of the table.

The means for adjusting the pipe bed to pipes VVo'f diierent sizes comprises two cam shafts 31 @and 38 which extend transversely below the table Il] in spaced-apart, substantially-parallel relationship #to each other and are journaled in vbearingblocks .39 .secured to the under side of the table. "Two circular cams 49 are eccentricallymounted on each shaft 31 and 38 in position such that one cam on each shaft underlies the plate "22 of 4v.the pipe r-.bed :and Y'the `other f 'cam VVon eachshaft underlies Athe.' 4plate of the 4piper bed,

taneously rota-ted,-both of the:-outside'-.plates==22 and 23 of :the pipe rbed lwill Vbe tilted-upwardly about their `.hinge -connections with the center plate :24 from fa flat Lposition, yas illustrated -'-in Figure -3, to an inclined or troughlsbaped iposition, asillustrated-in Figure-fl. t Y

viAnzarmflI -is secured at-one end 'to 'the' shaft-"31 at ione end :of vthe .latter and extends upwardly therefrom, anda similarlarm 4-2is securedatlone end 'to the fshaft f38 at one end lof the flatter 'fand extends upwardly therefrom, these arms `nbei-ng spaced from the adjacent side 1of tlie table, vas ris clearly illustrated Iirrlligurel An elongated -bar 43 is pivotally connected to rthe arms 14"! and '42 near -the upperends :of the lat-ter, fand extends substantially -to theend ofthe table opposite the protractor :plate and gauge plate assembly. `V=A hand l-le'ver 44 is pivotally vconnected .at its :flower end fto a bracket 45 moi-mined on the top of the table and is pivotally lconnected"interdiredia'te its length to the bar 43. -A toot/'hed :quadra-nt '46`fis secured on the table at the lower end 'of t-lie lever and va detent carried-'bythe `lever1 and 6perated by a handle 4l is enga-geable with th'e quadrant to releasa-bly lock the hand 'lever-in v'a'rious positions of adjustment. By this means, the pipe bed can be adj ustedv'to properly suppor'tlpipes or tubes of different diameters, Vso that the #lontgitudinal center line of such a pipe will be substantially in vertical alignment with the 1o"`gi= tudinal center line of the'table.

The means I6 and I? for `supportin-gthe standard support I5 comprise two sections of metal tubL ing secured to the upper surface ofthetable to VeSitend transversely of the table "substantiallyrsymi 'metrical with the longitudinal center line the tableand adjacentthe respectively-'oppsit 'ends "of the pipe bed I I.

The support I5 comprises an elongated drietal bar 4s vhorimmaily disposed above 'the 'table at a location spaced frm the adjacent-side o`f the pip bed I l and two bars 49 and 50 extending perpendicularly from the bar t8 near respectivelyopposite ends of the latter and slidably received in the tubular' brackets le and I1 The bars '49 and 53 are releasably secured at Apbs'iticiis of ad"-v ,ju'stment longitudinally `o"f the 'tubular brackets I6 and l1 by Suitable means, sacri as the setsc'rews 5I and 52 threaded respectively trrugii the brackets 15 and .n and bearing agar-fistthe bars 49 Aand* 50. c

The standard 18 comprises a carriage- 5deurrounding and slidably mounted on the elongated bar 48 and a post 54 secured'at its lower end to the carriage 5,3 and upstanding perpendicularly therefrom. A set screw 55 is threaded through the carriage to engage the bar 48 and releasably secure the carriage at various positions of adjustment longitudinally of the bar.

In the arrangement illustrated, the device I9 comprises a carriage 56 slidably mounted onthe post 54, an externally-screw-threaded sleeve 5l Secured to this carriage to extend perpendicularly therefrom, a tubular carrier 58 slidably mounted in the sleeve 5l' and extending through an aperture provided in the end wall 59 of the sleeve, a cap 60 threaded onto the sleeve 5l and overlying the open end of the sleeve, and a compression spring 6I disposed within the cap and interposed between the tubular carrier 58 and the closed end of the cap to resiliently project the carrier from the sleeve. A chalk pencil e2 extends through the carrier 58 and through an aperture in the closed end of the cap t@ and is secured to the carrier by a set screw G3 threaded through a screw-threaded boss i provided on the carrier and bearing at its inner end against the pencil 52.

With the above arrangement, after the pipe bed has been adjusted to suitably support the pipe, the set screws 5i and 52 are loosened and the support 48 moved until it is properly positioned relative to the side of a pipe supported on the pipe bed. Screws 5l and 52 are then tightened, the screw 55 is loosened, and the carriage 53 moved along the bar 48 to bring the device I9 to the desired position longitudinally of the pipe, whereupon the screw 55 is tightened and the screw 65 which locks the carriage 5S Vto the post 54 is loosened and the deviceV i9 adjusted up or down until the point of the pencil 62 is brought into contact with the side of the pipe at a point thereon substantially in a horizontal plane including the longitudinal center line of the pipe. Under these conditions, when the pipe is rotated, the scribe or pencil t2 will mark a line on the outer surface of the pipe.

While a marking device has been illustrated for the purpose of disclosing the invention, it is to be understood that this device may be a pencil or chalk holder, a scribe, a cutting tool, a powerdriven milling cutter, or a cutting torch, so that the pipe may either be marked for later severing along a line marked or scribed thereon, or may be severed immediately along the prescribed line.

It is to be noted that the table is provided with elongated slots 65 which respectively receive the cams 4G so that these cams can project from the under side of the table through the corresponding slots to engage the under sides of the side plates 22 and 23 of the pipe bed.

The feeler arm E!) comprises an elongated metal bar S7 bifurcated at one end to provide two furcations spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive a pipe wall therebetween. One of these furcations is apertured and two set screws 68 and 59 are threaded through these apertures at relatively spaced-apart locations to engage the outer surface of the pipe wall and firmly secure the bar 6'! to the pipe. A collar l?) surrounds the bar intermediate its length and a ball pin H is secured to and projects outwardly from this collar. A brace 'I2 is secured at one end to the ball of the ball pin and is provided at its opposite end with a clip 73 for engaging the end of the pipe at a location spaced from the bifurcated end of the bar El to firmly support the bar on the pipe. A roller 14 is mounted in the bar 61 at its opposite end and is engageable with the adjacent surface of the gauge plate I4.

In using the machine, the protractor plate I3 is set at the desired angle and, after the device I9 is suitably adjusted, as described above, the

pipe carried on the pipe bed l! is rotated with the roller 14 in contact with the gaugeplate I4.v

The angular position of the gauge plate will irnpart longitudinal movement to the pipe as the pipe is rotated, causing the device i9 to locate on the pipe a line of severance having an angular relationship to the longitudinal center line of the pipe corresponding. tothe angular relationship of the protractor plate i 3 to the longitudinal center line of the table.

The invention may be embodied in otherV speciflc forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, 4.the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What I claimis:

i. Pipe lay-out apparatus comprising an elongated table, an adjustable pipe bed mounted on said table and extending longitudinally thereof,y manually-operated means carried by said table and engaging said pipe bed for adjusting the latter to different size pipe, a protractor plate pivotally secured to said table at one end of said pipe bed, a gauge plate secured at one edge t0 said protractor plate along a diameter `ofj the latter and -upstanding substantially perpendicularly therefrom, a standard support extending longitudinally of said pipe bed at one side thereof and slidably connected to said table for move-ment toward and away from said pipe bed, a vertical standard mounted at its lower end on said standard support for movements of adjustment longitudinally of said support, means carried by said standard and adjustably movable longitudinally thereof for locating a line of severance on a pipe supported on said pipe bed, and means attachable to a pipe supported on said pipe bed at the en. of such pipe adjacent said gauge plate to Contact said gauge plate and move the pipe longitudinally as the same is rotated on said pipe for establishing on the pipe a line of severance having an angular relationship to the 1ongitudinal center line of the pipe corresponding to the angular setting of said protractor plate and gauge plate.

2. Pipe lay-out apparatus comprising an elongated table, an adjustable pipe bed mounted on said table and extending longitudinally thereof, manually-operated means carried by said table and engaging said pipe bed for adjusting the latter to different size pipe, a protractor plate pivotally secured to said table at one end of said pipe bed, a gauge plate secured at one edge to said protractor plate along a diameter of the latter and upstanding substantially perpendicularly therefrom, a standard support extending longitudinally of said pipe bed at one side thereof and slidably connected to said table for movement toward and away from said pipe bed, a vertical standard mounted at its lower end on said standard support for movements of adjustment longitudinally of said support, means carried by said standard and adjustably movable longitudinally thereof for locating a line of Severance on a pipe supported on said pipe bed, and means attach- 

